The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 5
WILLIAM WHITACRES Dr. of D: Kinges Professor and Master of Snt Iohns Coll in Cambridge where He died Ano 1595. Aged 47 yeares. W. Marshall sculp:
CHAP. 5. The life of Dr. VVHITAKER.
WIlliam Whitaker born at Holm in the County of Lancaster of good parentage, especially by his mothers side, allied to two worshipfull families. His reverend unckle, Alexander Nowell, Dean of S. Pauls (the first fruits of the English Confessours in the dayes of Queen Marie, who after her death first return'd into England from beyond the Seas) took him young from his parents, sent him first to Pauls School, thence to Trinity Colledge in Cambridge; where he so profited in his studies, that he gave great promises of his future perfection.
I passe by his youthfull exercises, never striving for the garland, but he wonne and wore it away. His prime appearing to the world, was when he stood for the Professours place against two Competitours, in age farre his superiours. But the seven Electours in the Universitie who were to choose the Emperour of the Schools, preferring a golden head before silver hairs, conferr'd the place on Whitaker; and the strict form of their Election hath no room for corruption. He so well acquitted himself in the place that he answered expectation, the strongest opponent in all disputes and lectures, and by degrees taught envie to admire him.
By this time the Papists began to assault him, and the Truth. First Campian, one fitter for a Trumpeter then a Souldier, whose best ability was that he could boast in good Latine, being excellent at the flat hand of Rhetorick (which rather gives pats then blows) but he could not bend his fist to dispute. Whitaker both in writing and disputing did teach him, that it was easier to make then maintain a challenge against our Church; and in like manner he handled both Duraeus, and Sanders, who successively undertook the same cause, solidly confuting their arguments.
But these Teazers, rather to rouze then pinch the Game, onelyonly made Whitaker find his spirits. The fiercest dog is behind even Bellarmine himself, a great scholar, and who wanted nothing but a good cause to defend, and generally writing ingeniously, using sometimes slenting, seldome down-right railing. Whitaker gave him all fair quarter, stating the question betwixt them, yielding all which the other in reason could ask, and agreeing on terms to fall out with him, plaid fairly but fiercely on him, till the other forsook the field.
Bellarmine had no mind to reinforce his routed arguments, but rather consigned over that service to a new Generall, Stapleton an English man: He was born the same *Pitz…us. De ill…i Angl. scrip. Atat. 16. pag. 796.yeare and monethmonth wherein Sr. Thomas More was beheaded, an observation little lesse then mysticall with the Papists, as if God had substituted him to grow up in the room of the other for the support of the Catholick cause. If Whitaker in answering him put more gall then usuall into his ink, Stapleton (whose mouth was as foul as his cause) first infected him with bitternesse: and none will blame a man for arming his hands with hard and rough gloves, who is to meddle with bryers and brambles.
Thus they baited him constantly with fresh dogs: None that ran at him once desired a second course at him; and as *Davenant in Praefat. De Iud…c & N…rma …idei.one observes, Cum nullo hoste unquam constixit, quem non fudit & fugavit.
He filled the Chair with a gracefull presence, so that one needed not to do with him as *In epist. ad Spalalmum.Luther did with Melanchthon when he first heard him reade, abstract the opinion and sight of his stature and person, lest the meannesse thereof should cause an undervaluing of him: for our Whitakers person carried with it an excellent port. His style was manly for the strength, maidenly for the modesty, and elegant for the phrase thereof; shewing his skill in spinning a fine thred out of course wool, for such is controversiall matter. He had by his second wife, a modest woman, eight children. It being true of him also, what is said of the famous Lawyer *Thuanus, obit. doct. vir. anno 1558.Andreas Tiraquillus, singulis annis singulos libros & liberos Reipublicae dedit.
My Father hath told me, that he often wished that he might lose so much Learning as he had gotten in after-supper studies, on condition he might gain so much strength as he had lost thereby. Indeed his body was strongly built for the naturall temper, and well repair'd by his temperate diet and recreations; but first he foundred the foundation of this house by immoderate study, and at last the roof was set on fire by a hot disease.
The unhappy controversie was then started, Whether justifying faith may be lost. And this thorny question would not suffer our Nightingale to sleep. He was sent for up by Arch-bishop Whitgift to the conference at Lambeth, after which returning home, unseasonable riding, late studying, and night-watching brought him to a burning-fever, to which his body was naturally disposed, as appeared by the mastery of rednesse in his complexion. Thus lost he the health of his body, in maintaining, That the health of the soul could not be lost. All agreed that he should be let bloud; which might then easily have been done, but was deferred by the fault of some about him, till it was too late. Thus, when God intends to cut a mans life off, his dearest friends by dangerous involuntarie mistakes shall bring the knife. He died in the 47. yeare of his age, Anno Dom. 1595. and in S. Johns Colledge (whereof he was Master) was solemnly interred, with the grief of the University, and whole Church of God.